The Blog of Nathalie Heizenrader: Surviving Life After Art School

I get paid to do this?

2012-01-19T23:57:00.000-08:00

Sweet!

So, I work with children ages 2 to 5 and I find myself drawing with crayons a lot more than I have in the last, let's say, 15 years. I get requests, which I love, but I really love drawing with a kid. I love to see what they draw or what they ask me to draw. I also really like drawing a picture and having them help me color it. Sometimes I am just drawing while they watch movies or something and then they ask me what I'm doing and ask if they can draw too. These are my favorite days at work. Here's an example:

A girl named Kayla saw that I was coloring a unicorn.

She got all excited and told me all about how she LOOOOVEES unicorns SO MUCH and how my unicorn was the most prettiest unicorn she has ever seen. So, she asked me if she could draw a unicorn too. She gave me her drawing:

It's my favorite drawing at work. I put it on the wall with the other drawings kids give me. Not to sound rude, but it really is my favorite.
I think her unicorn is better.

Love,
Nat

Adventures in childcare. Oof.

music: Spring And A Storm - Tally Hall
movie: Snow White & the Seven Dwarves
book: Virals by Kathy Reichs and rereading Barry Ween by Judd Winick

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-09T00:57:00.000-08:00

This is going to be an interesting year. I am hoping to stop mucking about and finally pull on my artist gloves. I went completely awash last year. 2011 was completely focused on my job and paying bills and stressing out. I had good times with friends and family, but I feel a sense of vacancy and urgency all at once. I need to do art. MORE. NOW. I've found myself so significantly starved of artistic outlet that I am hopelessly addicted to the Crayola crayons at work. I have a work sketchbook and I knit, but that is barely keeping me afloat. I had a small burst of steam within the last three months, making gifts for Christmas and such. I painted a couple birds, a cat, and several pin ups. Delicious. My days off, more recently, I find myself focused on Skyrim or Netflix or sleeping. All of these things are good, but they are also not completely necessary in great quantities. Also, I am aiming to have my scanner up and scanning by the end of the week. I will flood this blog with images. I will !

Good luck to me!
Love to you.

-Nat

Thinking about getting a dog... in the future sometime.

2011-12-26T23:05:00.000-08:00

The aesthetics of dogs is a very personal opinion. There are hideous dogs out there that people actual love and look for, but it's all based on taste. And there's absolutely no pleasing everyone. I love dogs. I have wanted one of my own, since I moved out by myself. They are wonderful pets and friends. Here is one of my list things of dogs I like. I hope to get one of these breeds in the future, but humane society mutts are perfect if they have a good personality too! Demeanor is more important than looks, but these are my top picks.

The samoyeda is a beautiful dog. Known to be more friendly than the husky, I think they have great faces and figures.

My favorite dog shape ever. Reminds me of Edward Gorey. These dogs are brave, protective, and loyal. Not good for multiple dog homes.

The boxer has won me over, especially because of my boyfriend's parent's boxer Ben. They are friendly, energetic, and extremely happy. I can't be sad for very long around Ben.

I have loyalty to airedales because my mother owned one for about 15 years and she was one of the most kind and friendly dogs I have ever known. I am biased, but I would definitely recommend them as a breed. Quite energetic and a bit ditzy, but they can be trained pretty quickly and they settle down when they are about 4 or 5 years, so if you buy one who is an older puppy they are easier to handle.

Irish Terrier. A smaller dog, and rascally, but cheerful and pretty. High spirited and very energetic, so they need a lot of exercise. Would definitely need a big yard or a large field nearby to keep this breed happy.

Wire-haired fox terrier. Adorable. Another smaller-sized dog, like the Irish Terrier, I really do prefer medium-sized dogs, but these dogs are very friendly, loyal, and very cute. They are a bit hyper, and would probably need 2-3 walks a day, but I am in love with them.

Border Terrier or Pharaoh Hound. Smaller than I would prefer, but I have think they have one of the friendliest faces of any breed. They are very energetic and wiggly, but also nice and protective.

I also like cats, but there is just something so wonderful about being greeted by a smiling dog face when you get home. They really do seem to like their people and I've seen very strong bonds form between a human and a dog. There is a stronger bond than with cats. And my boyfriend is not allergic to dogs... :D

Love,
Nate.

Art soon. Promise. Been making a lot of art, but scanner is having problems.

Messing About

2011-07-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

So, to follow a line of thinking from earlier today, I would like to post a list of favorite actors and actresses. Most of whom has done films which have influenced my art and tastes in movies. I've narrowed it down to my top 10. Doesn't really feel art-related too much. But I've always admired really good actors/actresses and used to want to be in plays more, but I've resigned myself to the fact that my memory just isn't good enough. Acting is an art. And a hard one that takes over your life. These are actors/actresses who I appreciate and have found there films to be mostly consistently good. I will update art posts this week.

1. Christoph Waltz
2. Peter Dinklage
3. Lee Pace
4. Brendan Gleeson
5. Chiwetel Ejiofor

1. Penelope Cruz
2. Rachel Weisz
3. Audrey Tautou
4. Tina Fey
5. Paula Malcomson

Each of them have been in movies or shows I've loved and ones I've hated or had no interest in. It's strange how the media can also influence a personal opinion of an actor/actress briefly enough to have you miss a couple of there films or want no part in their newer stuff. I also find it harder to like and appreciate actresses. Which miffs me a little. My feminist side gets all sad. I love women and there are plenty of one-off performances I really like, just not very consistent performances in wide-variety who I find myself to go back to. The same can be said for actors, too, I suppose. But I find it to a lesser degree. I'm not sure why. Maybe I expect too much from actresses and I am rarely won over by the damsel-in-distress take which is so, sadly, still the case all too often.

Love,
Nat.

Art posts to follow soon.

water, which is lower than all things yet stronger even than the rocks.

2011-06-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

Don't worry. I will never forget you. Look. I've been drawing and everything. I've just been out in the wide world trying to fend for myself too.
I am still a cashier and I still hate it. But there have been a lot of improvements.
My boyfriend and I had a terrible fight, but we got through it and we are better for it. Stronger. I have convinced myself that I can admit that I have depression and I am seeking medical help. Stronger. I am applying for more jobs. I am applying for food stamps on Friday so I don't feel so stretched out because of money... I hate when money makes me cry and get all anxious. I am hanging out with friends more and I feel better for it. I am also trying to get some more alone time with myself. I feel crowded a lot and I get stressed when I don't have proper time to clear my head. And the bus rides no longer feel like enough alone time. Stronger. I am making an effort to listen to more happy music. I am trying to read more and watch good shows. I am ignoring commercials and people who make me mad. I am ignoring people who are mean for no reason. It's a waste of energy. They don't matter. I am trying to have more fun at work. Trying.

I love you and I love art and I just wanted you to know that I am still here and I am still making art.

"I'm an artist first"

Nata <3

music: Be My Yoko Ono - Barenaked Ladies

Dr. Who are you?

2011-03-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

You are the Ninth Doctor
Take The Doctor Who Personality Test and Horoscope today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Personality Test Generator.

You are a caring and fun loving person, but you like to keep your past to yourself. You enjoy showing off to people you think deserve it, but will belittle those you do not like. You prefer to have a small group of friends and do not really care about popularity. You are a bit rough and gritty, but keenly intelligent and sexy in a strange way. You are attracted to younger people. You have a good sense of humor, but you use it to cover up the pain you are really going through. You will sacrifice yourself to save someone you truly love, and then move to New York and become invisible.

So, I've not had a lot of opportunities to post art lately. I have indeed been trying to do the 50 in 30. It just hasn't been posted yet. ... So, it will be a crazy day of scanning and posting sometime soon.
Also, about four days ago my own laptop become sick with a virus. I haven't been able to get it to anybody who can fix it yet. But, I've been told by a friend that they can give it a go on Monday. Hopefully it will be fixable.
Promise art soon.

Love!
nathalie

music: Iron&Wine - Around the Well disc 2

50in30

2011-03-04T13:18:00.000-08:00

As is evident in a post I made a couple days ago, I am attempting 50 relatively finished drawings within the month of March. The other contributors post their stuff here: http://insomniacsketchsociety.blogspot.com/ You may see a lot of overlap of my stuff on both my blog and theirs (ours). Oh, well. Hope you like seeing my art more than once. ;)
Here's what I've done so far:

I've mostly just been doing what I do. Graphite, ink, watercolor. Whatever. I am also going to try to make this project into more of an experiment. I want to do what is more outside my own comfort zone.
We'll see what happens.

Love,
Nata.

music: All These Things That I've Done - The Killers

Featured Blog:

2011-03-01T15:53:00.001-08:00

My blog might be small, and maybe a dozen people read it with any degree of regularity, but I do enjoy doing a feature. For you. Whomever of you followers who pay attention.

I have a list, the length of my leg, of blogs and online comics and tumblrs that I follow.

One art site I have found very entertaining, creative, and simply plain cool is Lunch Bag Art. http://lunchbagart.tumblr.com/
It's pretty self-explanatory, but it's also possibly the coolest way to make lunch for yourself and/or your kids more cool and exciting.
One of my favorites is this one:

I have no official affiliation with this site and I don't even know, nor have I even met, the gentleman who makes these brown paper artworks. I'm simply posting this because I like and I am making no claim that I have created or that I have any kind of legal control of it. I just like it.
The paintings are not only lovably adorable, they are beautiful.

Thanks for letting me throw props to someone I don't even know.

Love, Nat.

March Madness.

2011-03-01T15:27:00.000-08:00

An old chum of mine from art school has set my imagination on fire.
You can find her here: http://www.melissadowillustration.com/
She has started a kind of a self-motivated challenge.
50 drawings by April 1st. 50 drawings in 30 days.
I'm in.
If y'all wanna join in, you should post something and let me know.
Important: you don't have to do one or two a day. Work at your own pace.

I will be posting my progress whenever I can over the next month.

This sounds like a good personal challenge and there could be some great experiments and break-throughs in my art.
Having not set about to achieve anything specifically artistic within the last few days.

More to follow!

Love,
Nathalie.

current music: mixed CD "car wash mix"

When we were young.

2011-02-21T12:33:00.000-08:00

Here is a small list of some of the artist influences I had around me as a small child. I'm sure I've left some out, but I will probably update more later.

William Nicholson. Best known by me for The Velveteen Rabbit.

Tomie dePaolo. Best known by me for Indian Paintbrush and Strega Nona.

Don Freeman. Corduroy.

Quentin Blake. Best known by me for all of the illustrations in the Roald Dahl books.

Jan Brett. Best known to me for her retelling of Beauty and the Beast and The Owl and the Pussycat. As well as Twelve Days of Christmas.

Clement Hurd. Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny.

Leo and Diane Dillon. Why Mosquitoes Buzz In People's Ears and numerous young adult book covers.

Bill Watterson. Need I say more?

Each of these artists are still influential to me. And they're still some of my favorite artists.

Nathalie.
Love.

TV: A Haunting. Season 1.

DrawRawr!

2011-02-09T12:50:00.000-08:00

Some ink and graphite doodles.
You might see a Dr. Girlfriend in there.
And I drew some sexy space ladies for you (Vince).
Along with some other people and things. Nouns mostly.

LOVE,
Nathalie. G.

book: Agents of Light and Darkness by Simon R. Green
movie: Throw Momma From the Train

Tawanda!

2011-02-07T14:58:00.000-08:00

Ever think about what you could/would do if you suddenly had $1000? What about $100,000? I do all the time.
Since I am still at a 20 hour job, that pays me just enough to cover my small cost of living, thinking in the thousands is hard to do sometimes.
Stretching it out to hundreds of thousands? What? No one has THAT kind of money. Pshh. Oh, they do. And I'm sure some of the worked very hard, or inherited it, or were just born with it. I can't even fathom it.
$500,000? Hells nah. What about, dare I say, $1,000,000?!?! No! Surely not! Not even god has THAT kind of bread! Well, no, there are people with that kind of cash.

Well, earlier today, I was feeling kinda down. Making virtually no money makes you a little depressed. Feeling like the degree you worked really hard for is just sitting on top of your bookcase, is frustrating. Totally. But, I started getting a little fidgety. What if, all-of-a-sudden my bank account had $1,000,000,000 in it? What the fuck would I do with all that crazy money?!? Getting that kind of money is kind of like the edge-of-the-volcano-test for someone who has never really had any. Who would I become and what would I do with it?

So, I made a list.
If I had $1,000,000,000:

Quit my job.
Pay off student loans.
Pay off my sister's student loans.
Pay off any loans/debts of my parents.
Design and build my own house.
Buy two cars and hire a driver (Even as a millionaire I don't think I'd want to drive...).
Buy a really good bicycle.
Buy studio/office space fully equipt for art making.
Start gallery and small-time publishing resource for artists/writers.
Buy massages for entire “minion” staff at HW600 Fred Meyer.
Donate to Planned Parenthood.
Donate to Public Schools.
Donate to Public Libraries.
Donate to Heifer International.
Donate to World Wildlife Fund.
Donate to PNCA.
Donate to TSOTA.
Donate to Mercy Corps.
Donate to Zimbabwe Art Project.
Donate to Human Rights Campaign.
Donate to The Wild Image Project.
Donate to Portland Mission and Salvation Army.
Donate to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the floods of Haiti.
Donate to Breast Cancer Awareness/Prevention.
Donate to AIDS/HIV research.
Donate to the companies who work to find homes, jobs, and healthcare for soldiers coming back from the Middle East.
Invest in chocolate.
Outfit my own in-home gym; access for any friends/family who want to use it.
Put money toward groups who appose/prevent the usage of coral, ivory, and blood diamonds.
Travel: England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, France, Belgium, Italy, Mexico, Japan, New Orleans, Hawaii, New York, San Francisco, Madagascar, Galapagos Islands, Australia, Egypt.
Start a grant for artists.
Start a grant for liberal arts and humanities.
Buy a dog.
Learn bass guitar.
Learn French, German, Japanese, and Norwegian. Maybe Spanish.
Get a book published.
Shopping trip. Clothes and furniture, mostly. Y'all can come too!

Lastly, I'd get a job that I love. Or start my own company and manage it.

What would you do? That's a fuck ton of money. Would it end all the problems or just cause a bunch more? Would you change a lot? Would your personality warp and stretch and become monstrous. Sure, I make this list, but what would really happen? Would I become a drug-addicted, spoiled, media-hungry, shallow, wash out? Blow it all on coke and X and strippers? Maybe. But, I like making the list anyway.
I hope I would do all of those things.
I'd love to travel all those places and give 75% of my assets to charities and my family.
Yes, I'd probably go a little nuts and buy all of the clothes I ever wanted and the studio space seems like a splurge, but hell, we're not all saints. I'm not. I know that. I would probably throw a couple massive and irresponsible parties and I'd probably have a much bigger ego. Yeah, I would probably think I was better than a lot of people. Or not. I don't know. And I never will unless I suddenly had that money. Which I never will, most likely. Oh well.
I think it's pretty cool to think about. Slightly depressing, 'cause now I definitely want to do all those things with it, but cool and interesting none-the-less.

LOVE,
Natty. G.

music: CAKE - I want to love you madly
TV: Leverage
book: the Nightside books by Simon R. Green.

p.s. Arty post tonight or tomorrow! Finally! Updates!

mashed-up dance music.

2011-01-11T21:07:00.000-08:00

A pencil sketch of Kevin playing video games.

In a weird mood today. Blahblahblah.
Watched Super Troopers, which makes a lot of things better.
Been eating a lot better lately, and exercising, but weight loss takes SO long... oh, well. Just gotta keep at it.
Being mostly in a chair drawing, reading, and watching movies I've always been a little overweight. Sit-at-home-nerd-syndrome. Totally. Trying to morph into a more active nerd!
But I'm not too frustrated (I say that now). It'll happen.
I was pretty comfortable with all my curves (I still think I am cute/curvy) but this holiday weight ended that.
I'm sure there are other nerds/artists who can sympathize.
I wish I liked running. Or loved a sport enough to go play it every week.
But first I will conquer what I call "relaxation eating" which is essentially snacking while sitting for long periods of time.

Sorry, I know that's not art-related, but it does have to do with my art process.
I DO love granola, yogurt, celery, and almonds. Also 100% juices and teas. All of these are supposed to help weight come off. Also a lot of fiber, berries, fruits...etc. Sounds obvious, I know, but with my financial means it comes down to a lot of cheap/quick food like mac n' cheese, grilled cheese, bacon and eggs, and too much coffee. Throw in all of that holiday chocolate, cookies, and extra meat and cheese, and it became really obvious that I was losing the battle. Ugh.
I am starting off with cutting red meat, most cheese, and eggs. Also doing Pilates every other day and taking evening constitutionals more often.
Wish me luck!

Ta!
Love, Natty G.

music: dance-mix mash-ups
book: Of Bees and Mist: A Novel by Erick Setiawan

all the gold.

2011-01-09T15:22:00.000-08:00

This week I have forgone pencils. Only ink on paper directly.
For the holidays I got a small black spiral bound sketchbook (4.5" x 6").
Too small for me to feel comfortable with, so I've decided to use it up quickly to move on to one of a more workable size.
Above, pictured, you might find Totoro, Pangur Bán, a Red Fraggle, and a Batman. These characters aren't mine, but I love them and like drawing them.

You will also see the pens I used to make all of these images.
They are some of my favorite pens. I love them.

Love.
Nat.

music: Once OST
mood: melancholy ...

Animation: Not Just for Children

2011-01-08T21:07:00.000-08:00

Just because this is an art blog does not mean it always has to be about art I have created myself, though that is usually my focus.
Today is a TOP TEN day.
Top ten animated movies.
These are not in order of how much I love them.
None of these images are owned by me, belong to me, or ones I am attempting to sell as my own. Nor were any of them created by me. I'm merely using them to accent my list.

1. An American Tale
2. Sleeping Beauty

3. The Secret of Kells

4. Princess Mononoke
5. Grave of the Fireflies

6. The Iron Giant
7. The Sword and the Stone
8. The Road to El Dorado
9. Persepolis

10. The Prince of Egypt

Some of my favorite CG movies:

1. The Incredibles
2. How to Train Your Dragon
(image at the top of the page: The Art of How to Train Your Dragon)
3. Despicable Me
4. Megamind

5. Toy Story trilogy
6. Open Season
7. Up
8. Meet the Robinsons
9. Finding Nemo
10. Wall-E

TV animated series:
1. Samurai Jack

2. The Regular Show
3. Adventure Time
4. Daria
5. South Park

Honorable mentions:
The animated sequence in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?(animated/live action hybrid)
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (animated/live action hybrid)
The animated/rotoscoped credit sequences in Robin Hood (2010)

Not all of these movies are my most favorite movies EVER. I love, like, and enjoy all of them. In varying degrees, but they are not listed in any kind of order.
Mostly this is a list of movies I have chosen because of their technical merit, their use of photography, and the quality I see in their finished product.
Because this is just a little blog, feel free to disagree. Whatever.
Just my opinion. :)

animated/CG movies I want to see:
1. Legend of the Gaurdians
2. The Illusionist
3. Coraline
4. A Town Called Panic
5. Tangled

Love.
Natty G.

TV: Deadwood s.2
book: Evil Genius

Some updates on the other site.

2010-12-20T16:30:00.000-08:00

A cute mermaid.

Spider and Rudi from The Mighty Boosh.

Naboo and Bollo from The Mighty Boosh.

More updates can be found at : http://pandaknights.blogspot.com/.

Lurve,
N.G.

TV: Venture Brothers season 4

p.s. killing time until dinner plans tonight... bored. drawing isn't even helping THAT much. Twiddling my thumbs. :D

happy christmas!

2010-12-20T14:59:00.000-08:00

A Christmas Story.

Happy Holidays.

I'm non-denominational, but I still like to party and give my friends presies!

LOVE,
Nat. G.

Some things to do.

2010-12-20T14:40:00.000-08:00

I'm making an art-related "To Do" list.
I am hoping to get a majority of these accomplished before I die.

1. visit the Louvre in Paris, France

2. visit the Uffizi in Florence, Italy

3. visit Milan, Italy

4. visit Kathe Kollwitz museum in Berlin, Germany

5. visit National Museum of Art, Architecture, and Design in Oslo, Norway

6. visit Groeninge Museum in Bruges, Belgium

7. do art tour in London, Bath, Cambridge, Liverpool, and Oxford in the U.K.

8. do art tour in Edinburgh, Scotland

9. visit Amgueddfa Cymru in Cardiff, Wales

10. do art tour in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Hiroshima in Japan

We'll see what I can do about getting most of these done. It will have to wait until I have more disposable income.
Even going back to MoMa would be awesome. But museums outside the states would be pretty interesting, fascinating.

Love, Natty G.

show: The Mighty Boosh
music: Power to the People, John Lennon

Panda Knights

2010-12-04T11:40:00.000-08:00

Two more Drawing-A-Day thingies.
As you may not know, Kevin has created a site specifically for our weekdaily drawings.
It is here: http://pandaknights.blogspot.com/
And it is awesome. If there are days where I might not have posted my work, they will be posted here every Wednesday and Friday.

Made a chorizo bagel sandwich with Sicilian pepper jack, roasted red pepper hummus, and avocado. Delicious.
My mental state has been fluctuating a lot this week.
I've had a really strange week. Things have been quite random and I've had some bad times. Work related and frustrating.
Oh well. These things happen. "These things build character." As Calvin's dad would say. I'm a little sick of building character, though.
When do I get to redeem all this character I've been building?
I've also had a lot of fun. And seen a lot of friends and have made plans to see more friends. So, very roller-coaster, but OK.

Love,
Nat.

TV: Bones season 2

P.S. bought some flaxseed capsules with Omega-3 and super lignan. Hopefully this will help my depressed mood as of late.
Watched Heckler by Jamie Kennedy. Ate Newman's Own pizza. Feeling better. Played Rockband II, still not any good on Medium unless it's a simple song or one I really know well.
Happy Birthday Dad. <3

scotch on the rocks! and I mean ice!

2010-12-02T21:05:00.000-08:00

oxo
Nat.

green and invisable.

2010-11-30T22:52:00.000-08:00

Drawings from Monday's Arts and Crafternight.
Again with the Sharpie Marksalot. I want to color at least half of these.
Hopefully I will do this tomorrow.

Hung out and ate pizza at my boyfriend's parent's house. Unfortunately, I left my sketchbook at my house, and then we ended up going shopping, so I didn't have time to draw anyway. Tomorrow I work until 9pm, so I should get some drawing done tomorrow night. Yay!

Love,
Nathalie
<3 <3 <3

p.s. excited for my new cell phone and phone number. rockin' it on the new rock band II set-up in the tv room! yay technology!

draw

2010-11-27T10:30:00.001-08:00

Been at day job a lot. No time. No sleep. Blahblahblah.

Love,
Nan

I said my piece and counted to three...

2010-11-22T17:30:00.000-08:00

This past week I have been suffering from an almost crippling cloud of artistic self-doubt and general purposelessness.
Long story short: It sucks. Both the feelings of doubt and all of the art I've been doing.
The Drawing-A-Day has definitely been motivating. But I feel a need for critiques, face to face constructive feedback, and a bigger work space... basically I want college back. Irk. It all comes back to that. Why? Why was college so great? What gives it the right to be my creative high point? Deadlines, teachers, classmates, utilities and equipment at my disposal from 6am to midnight EVERYday.
Nah, it wasn't THAT great.
Maybe the soul-crushing job? No. It pays my bills so I should quit my bitchin'. Do I feel like I'm better than that job? Yes. I feel like I deserve recognition and more money, but don't we all? And how many people actually get that? Not many.
Why do I continuously chicken out of commissions? I feel like I am declining artistically and that I don't deserve the attention that I crave.
After following more art blogs, art collective websites, and independent art sites, I am definitely comparing myself to everything and everybody that is out there. I am feeling inadequate and unprepared.
I have a fear of turning that art that I love into the soul-crushing job I hate, so maybe that mindset of work=majorsuck and art=funawesomelove is so inherent in my life I cannot disconnect these ideas. Or try to reverse them.

Thanks for letting me rant, you guys. Thanks to whomever reads this dohickey I type on sometimes.

Anyway, more art posting tonight. Tomorrow, please, too.
I will be sitting at my drafting table tomorrow, for as long as I can. I haven't done that enough lately. Maybe it will make me feel better.

I feel like art is all I'm good at, but I'm not good enough.

Well I'll show me.
:)

Nat.

music: The Maid Needs A Maid - Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton [Knives Don't Have Your Back]

P.S. Played Zombies last night. The D&D-ish card game. It was great.
Also, I'm really going to try to avoid making this blogspot into a total dumping ground for all of my complaining, so I will go for art-related or zilch. Just to keep it upbeat. Who knows who read this anyway.

Oliver.

2010-11-19T15:38:00.001-08:00

Today's drawing: Oliver Platt playing Maurice from The Imposters.

I will try to have more colors. Tomorrow.
I don't want it all to be black and white.
On my days off I will also try to make them more inclusive of detail and background.
Single figures are my safe place. Gotta branch out.

Love,
Nat.
See you tomorrow.

music: The Mission soundtrack by Ennio Morricone

two fer one. and then one moar.

2010-11-19T13:06:00.000-08:00

Wednesday. A dog balancing act.
Thursday. Queen of Skate.

Blahblahblah.

I am sad that I don't have time to upload everyday, but I'm doin' it!

Today's will get posted soon... Soon as I know what it is and draw it.

Lurve,
NAT.

Truck Tuesday.

2010-11-16T15:17:00.000-08:00

Truck chock full o' skulls. More of a morbid assignment, but I've always been challenged by automobiles. Or even mechanical things, as such.

Brush pen and prismacolor.

Love, Nathalie.

Monday = more drawing a day

2010-11-15T23:01:00.000-08:00

So, it was mutually agreed that weekends would be optional for the drawing a day thing.
We had a busy weekend and I worked on Saturday, so it wasn't really a weekend anyway, but we were gone and then we were having friends over and blahblahblah.

Long story shory: won't always do a drawing on the weekends.

Nuf said. Mer.

But, now it's Monday, so we are no longer exempt.

A lost robot.

Again, Kevin's contributions are here:
http://not-savage.livejournal.com/30461.html

So, I guess it's techinically Drawing-A-Day-Five-Days-A-Week.

Love,
Nat.

The Look: Nathalie Aesthetic

2010-11-12T15:22:00.000-08:00

Inspiration? Where do your ideas come from? How do you come up with the images you make?
There is never really an answer you can put into words, for questions like that. I'm not a famous artist, or even an amazing talent, but I am always curious about where I get my ideas. Yet, I am always at a loss as to how to answer this question.
I was looking through my image folders just now and I find that some of the below images, people, and styles are what inspire me most.
These images do not belong to me, were not created by me, and I have no legal control over them. I am using them only to convey my artist aesthetic.

Dita Von Teese.

Bettie Page.

1920s era photography and fashion.

Black and white movies. The African Queen among them. The classic and beautiful images of Bogart and Hepburn.

Pin-up and erotic photography from the early 1900s.

Modern twists on ridiculous and amazing 1750-60s era fashions. As seen in Marie Antoinette (2006) and sugar tits pin-up.

Strange pin-up/stripper fashions. Including, but not limited to, Star Wars theme.

Marilyn Monroe.

Lauren Bacall.

A bit random, I know, but I will be continue to improve my pin-up drawing and painting skills. These seem to convey my "look" best at the moment.

Love,
Nata

Yesterday.

2010-11-12T14:39:00.000-08:00

OK. So, I'm caught up with posting. The top image is from yesterday's draw a day assignment. A house that is sad because he isn't haunted.
The second image is todays. A lady pirate who finds a randomly lame treasure.
I mean, come on, she came ALL that way and all she got was a couple dozen teddy bears. LAME.

They are brush pen in my sketchbook. I think I will start incorporating color in the next one. I just have been very pressed for time lately. Work, cleaning, eating, sleeping, showering, work, work, work... blah, blah, blah.

I want to get paid to sit around in my underwear, drawing.

A man rang the doorbell this morning, but I didn't get the door because I was only wearing a t-shirt and panties. If I had any less modesty, he'd have had an interesting surprise.

I hope the drawing a day is interesting to whomever is out there in internetland.

Have a good weekend!
Love,
Nat

music: Once OST - Trying to Pull Myself Away (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova)

Day Two. Kinda.

2010-11-11T23:54:00.000-08:00

So, I'm a day behind with posting, because I was at work for forever.
But this one really is from yesterday. Kevin is my witness.

Today's I will be uploading tomorrow morning.
Sorry about the lag. Hopefully I can catch up with myself... work is a jerk. It gets in the way of all the other stuff I want to do.

Love,
Nathalie

P.S. Just noticed that my apathetic panda is dated incorrectly. I drew it on the day I posted it. Not the day I wrote on it... 'cause I crazay. whatevs.

'splody!

2010-11-09T20:24:00.000-08:00

LONG TIME NO SEE.
Anyway, Kevin and I are starting a drawing a day thingie. My contribution is the panda drawing above. Then I got carried away and did some other stuff, but I have to do at least one a day. Not just a bunch in one day. I've noticed my stuff is getting a little stagnant so I'm glad the random assignments from Kevin will spice shit up. Yeah!

But, the pencil of the blonde girl in only a tank top, panties, and thigh high stockings, at the top of the page, is my attempt at a fan art for Curvy. http://www.c.urvy.org/

Love, Nate

soon. so soon.

2010-11-09T16:43:00.000-08:00

I'm going to update with pictures tonight. Gotta scan stuff first, though.
Went down to Columbia Art & Drafting Supply today with Kevin and Sarah. Picked up some cold press watercolor paper, a new big sketchbook, Conté crayon, and some brush pens and erasers!
Woo! I haven't been in an art store for almost a year, so I felt like a cat in tuna canning factory!
I also realized that I need to pick up a lot more supplies next paycheck.
Ahh, starving artist life.

Also, I finally got back down to Aliviar coffee house on 42nd and Sandy. A great coffee place with good, fresh pastries. Haven't been down there in months because it's not very close to the house I moved into mid-February.

And, again, I will post actually art soon. Very soon.

Lastly, I am going to make an attempt at a Drawing A Day challenge. I figured I'd try it for a month and see how it goes, then extend it as I see how things go. Luck!

Love,
Nat_lee

music: Stewie and the Cowtones
book: Guards! Gaurds! by Terry Pratchett

Tizzy

2010-10-05T13:00:00.001-07:00

An attempt at steampunk. A genre I enjoy, but have never really tried for myself.

The Power. A fan art piece done for Regular Show and new kids show that is more adult than it seems and is hilarious.

Another random girl in her underwear. Big surprise?

Unfinished bunnies. They scanned in really light, but I am going to paint and ink them soon and repost them.

Love,
Nat.

Totoro

2010-09-24T15:01:00.001-07:00

Homage to Studio Ghibli.

Sharpie on Bristol board.

-Nat<3

Of all people, you know who I am…who the world needs me to be. I’m Wonder Woman.

2010-09-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

http://www.wonderwomanmuseum.com/WWDay4/WWDay4.html

My contribution to Wonder Woman Day 2010.
All I gots ta do is mail it.
Tomorrow or Friday.
Graphite, ink, acrylic on canvas paper with a Bristol board backing.

Sleep!
-Nat

It goes, like murky bird or buccaneer

2010-09-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

"The highways jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive
Everybody's out on the run tonight but there's no place left to hide
Together Wendy we'll live with the sadness
I'll love you with all the madness in my soul
Someday girl, I don't know when, we're gonna get to that place
Where we really want to go and we'll walk in the sun
But till then tramps like us, baby, we were born to run"

I want to be an ornithologist. I just don't want to go to school for it.
I want to draw birds and watch them fly around and I have wanted an African Grey since I read this book called Harry's Mad by Dick King-Smith back in grade school. I suppose I've always been a bit of a bird enthusiast. Since I remember laying on the grass in the back garden watching robins and crows and finches. Now I watch scrub jays, flickers, crows, and robins around the neighborhood. I am all set to buy a bird feeder and shepherd's hook, but those are awkward on the bus. And a bird bath and some houses and suet feeders... I want to watch them all day. Not an obsession, mind, but I find them both beautiful and calming.

Everything's gonna be alright.

Love,
Nat.

hear me roar.

2010-08-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

Final velo. Nixed the background due to printing budget. Looks fine without.

Love, Nat

song: Andy, You're A Star - The Killers [Hot Fuss]

see you next time, space cowboy

2010-08-16T23:20:00.000-07:00

Fan art for Castle Crashers on Xbox.
The green knight accompanied by the floating rammy.

Want to do more of them.
I first saw this game a few months ago and loved the design right away.
SO painfully cute. Even the bad guys and volcanoes.

<3 - Nate_alie

background: Moulin Rouge OST

so f***ing rock.

2010-08-16T19:55:00.000-07:00

A project for my friend Katie who is living in Idaho.

A first version.

Hope she likes it.

More to post soon.

Love, Nate

movie: Rex Steele Nazi Smasher
book: Masquerade by Terry Pratchett

Bare with me.

2010-07-25T11:43:00.001-07:00

Doodles. Some ink and watercolor.
Mostly graphite.
Pretty random stuff.

Love, Nan

the wood for the trees.

2010-07-25T11:36:00.000-07:00

Fan art.
Don't often do it, but here some is.

Avatar
Despicable Me
and
Adventure Time!

Love,
Nan

music: Barenaked Ladies Greatest Hits

Champions ip Records.

2010-07-20T22:08:00.001-07:00

I've been doing some book rearranging in my house today and I am proud to announce that I am just all kinds of nerdy. Step into my living room and you will be greeted with a bookcase full of graphic novels. Go into the TV room; a push-up-your-glasses free-for-all of Firefly, Willow, Legend, Venture Brothers, The Mummy, and the like on DVD and VHS. Beyond that, the studio. Full of art books and comics. And don't even get me started on the Batman pins on my coat of the TMNT and Ghostbusters posters on the wall...

Anyway, top ten list.
Graphic novels.

1. Love and Rockets by Jaime Hernandez
2. Hellboy by Mike Mignola
3. Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O'Malley
4. The Long Halloween by Loeb and Sale
5. The Complete Bone by Jeff Smith
6. Black Metal by Spears and BB
7. You Have Killed Me by Jones and Rich
8. Maus by Spiegleman
9. Persepolis II by Marjane Satrapi
10. Black Cherry by Doug TenNapel

All for different reasons and in no specific order. I love them.

I was at Floating World (Portland, OR) a little while ago and grabbed #1 Joe the Barbarian by Grant Morrison and Sean Murphy. I'm loving the story so far and the art is rockin'. I also came across an old comic I picked up awhile ago The Score put out by Piranha Press by Gerard Jones and Mark Badger. Killer art work in watercolor and the story is very gritty crime syndicate/noir.

COMICSCOMICSCOMICS.

I am applying to work at Things From Another World even if it feels hopeless. I would just love to work there. I need out of where I am currently and I miss having nerdyness and art be in my life every day, like in college.

Random nerd post, I know, just a thing I thought of.

Love,
Nathalie

background noise: Bioshock

/without the tight little denim/

2010-07-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Some concept ideas for a logo I've been working on for my friend Katie.
No color yet, but I'm thinking red and orange with a bit of blue.

More later. Yay!

-Nate

Music: Pretty Pink Ribbon - CAKE
Show: Jonathan Creek series 1

/ All that I know is that I think you're kinda special /

2010-07-10T15:04:00.000-07:00

Some ink drawings I did of Emma [the Airedale] who I mentioned two posts ago. She was put to sleep six days ago now. She was a wonderful family dog for many years. She never had anything bad to say about anyone.
Anyway, these are for my parents.

More to follow.
Working on some fan art and other such right now.

Love, Nate

music: Maybe I'm Wrong - Blues Traveler
show: re-watching Black Books series 1

"It's so fluffy, I'm gonna die! "

2010-07-10T01:52:00.000-07:00

I saw Despicable Me this evening with some of the crew.
It was really good. Better than I had expected.
I love the minions.
It is getting late (early?), though, so I cannot start any fan art right now! Well, I could, but I'm just not feeling it.
But I will do some tomorrow and post it and all will be well.
It was worth the $9.50 all the way. And it was just so funny and actually heartwarming.
PLUS there was AC in the theater and I am not doing well in this 93 degree+ weather we've been having over here. Ugh.

So, more tomorrow.

Love, Nan

p.s. Not only do I want my own minion now, I also want a huge fluffy unicorn plush... and a secret lair.
And you can make your own minion here:
http://www.despicable.me/pops/minionMaker/?lang_id=uk

"My pretty-pretty. We meet again."

2010-07-09T00:31:00.000-07:00

That first one kinda looks like Edith Piaf to me.
Then some random ladies in their underwear. Always good. One of my favorite things. Niiice.

Then some sketches and a little painting of my family's dog Emma [the Airedale] who just died five days ago. She was a lovely dog and I will miss her.
The painting is blurry because it didn't fit on my scanner... it doesn't look as much like her as the sketches because I am still not very good at painting fur.
I will try harder.

It felt so nice to draw and paint for at least two hours today. I wish I didn't need another job to get by, or I'd do just that. All day. Or at least part of the day.
If school wasn't so expensive, and I didn't already have student loans outstanding, I would totally go back and sit in class and learn more about art... but not right now.

Love,
Nan

music: Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog
show: season three of Supernatural

p.s. title quote from Barbarella: Queen of the Galaxy <3

something went horribly askew.

2010-07-03T17:11:00.000-07:00

It's been a month. More. I was very sick for about a week and a half... ugh. With a 102 degree fever and vomiting. That doesn't fuel the creative juices very well, but I had some intriguing dreams and I think I had at least one hallucination.
I had a little break down, also, and I've been working a bunch, but not enough.
But I'm better now. For awhile. I have the week off and I hope to buckle down and keep the house cleaner and get more serious artwork done. I need to pick up more bristol board and watercolor paper/cold press... gah shopping.
I have been drawing, in my sketchbook. My lovely discounted Piccadilly. The paper hold everything from pencil to watercolor to ink.
I haven't done anything really finished. But it's good to keep doodling.
Just keep on keepin' on.
Like that kitten on the branch. Hanging in there.

Love, Nate.

music: Eli, The Barrow Boy - The Decemberists [Picaresque]
book: The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart

Papagenu.

2010-05-31T20:19:00.000-07:00

New sketches. Within the last week.
Mostly graphite and watercolor.
Animals from the zoo and random people that don't really exist.

LOVE,
Nat.

P.S. I started watching more Glee. It is adorable. I'd only seen the first three episodes, and I loved them, but now I'm finally able to watch the rest of them. Just keeps getting better.

music: The Crane Wife 1 & 2 - The Decemberists

little by little.

2010-05-31T20:02:00.000-07:00

I have an interview for a clothing retail job tomorrow. I might have to work both jobs, or simply decline this new one, if they can't offer me enough money/time. I haven't had two jobs in a few months, so maybe I should again? Scheduling gets weird, though, but we'll see. Luckluckluck.

I had a bit of a mental collapse last week. Mostly hormonal, I guess, but I felt helpless and penniless and generally grasping at straws. I could barely go a day without crying.
I have a degree in art, that I earned last year, and now I'm a cashier making just enough money to pay rent, bills, and student loans, along with the occasional bag of groceries. So far, my degree feels like a weight around my neck. I did so much to get it and now I feel like a loser for not finding any job connected to it.
I also worry a huge amount about money I need/don't have. I feel that the only way to get out of this funk is to go back to school and get a degree in something I don't want, like business, or become a lawyer or doctor or something... but I don't want to be those things. Gah!

I have also been missing a lot of my friends from my home town, but since I haven't been staying in touch with many of them very well, I feel a little too distant to reconnect... blah. Also, I've lost connection with a lot of college people and that makes me sad.
I don't want to be downer, that wasn't the point of this post.

But I still find time to draw and read. And I love the house I'm living in and the people I'm living with. Also, my parents and sister are wonderful. And on my days off I am usually happy.

Still, I feel better, but I am in a weird brain space. It'll pass, honey.

-Love,
Nathalie Victoria.

music: The Pick of Destiny OST
book: The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

$2.99

2010-05-15T23:14:00.000-07:00

quote featured here (above) is from Reading In Bed by Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton. Album: Knives Don't Have Your Back. Great drawing music.

Some random doodles I did on my day off today.
I also threw in some watercolor experimentation.
Just for funsies.
They are not specific people.
And they are completely random... from my brains.

Watched Ghostbusters 1 and 2 today. Glorious.
Then spent most of the rest of the day watching old Bob Dylan videos on Youtube, drawing, and playing with my computer.

Love, Nan

music: You Belong - Hercules and Love Affair

one of the boys.

2010-05-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

This is from a dream I had. After I walked to work past a chapel with crows perched on its cross.

"come hell or high water."

better start swimming or you'll sink like a stone...

Triana Orpheus from The Venture Brothers.

Bar-tailed Trogon. But I can't find the plain-tailed Trogon. Is there one? If not, the differentiation is kind of silly. Just sayin'.

I've been feeling a little off lately, like I am missing something, but I can't place it.
Watched Smokin' Aces last night. It was OK. The multiple-perspective plot was neat and a couple of characters were developed really well, but it was pretty formulaic in a lot of ways. Still worth seeing at least once. If you like action. The DOP did a good job.

Headache day. Been getting those more often than usual these past few months. I blame it mostly on the florescent lights at work. And I haven't been drinking enough water, probably.

Love, Nan

music: Katy Perry
book: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

p.s. as soon as I put on my orange floral skirt, the sun went away...

Imaginarium.

2010-05-04T23:33:00.000-07:00

Leeloo from The Fifth Element.

Multi-Pass.
Yes, she knows it's a multi-pass...

-Nate.

superhero.

2010-05-04T23:06:00.000-07:00

My gift to Kevin for our ninemonthsaversary.
It's a quote from A Midsummer Night's Dream, scene I.
We say it all the time. Nerds!

It turned out a lot different than how I pictured it, but it still turned out pretty good and he thinks it's really cute, so that's all that matters.

More updateage soon.

*hearts* Nate.

music: Daft Punk - Discovery

sometimes work is very boring.

2010-05-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

At work there is an excess of paper and a lack of customers after about 8pm. Because we're open until 11pm, this mix is deadly to me and I often succumb.
These are just a few of my sketches drawn on the back of receipts and "insufficient funds" print-outs.
So, here you go.

Love, Nat.

More sketches and crap to follow soon. Along with that Zoombini art.

movie: Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Logically, Jim.

2010-04-19T13:23:00.001-07:00

Even though I moved house two months ago, I still have a couple of boxes of random stuff out in the garage... Every weekend I go out and sort through them a little bit more, often times coming across the odd DVD I thought I'd lost or a book I want to sell back to Powell's or an old sweatshirt or a random box of old paintbrushes, but two weeks ago I found a piece of nostalgia:

I remember playing this computer game when I was in grade school and loving it. I actually got it to work on one of the computers and it runs super fast. 32 bit animation and all, it is glorious. The strategy part of the game is supremely easier ,now, than it was for my nine year-old-self. A relief. I'm glad I'm smarter and quicker on the up take than nine-year-old me. I guess staying in school was worth it after all. Har har har.
Anyway, fan art to follow. Zoombinis are rad.

Love,
Nat

music: Tally Hall - Haiku
TV: ashes to ashes (UK)

How to Make A Dragon?

2010-04-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

I am obsessed, like I said a couple of posts ago, so why not make my own Toothless toy? I'm too cheap to go out to WalMart and buy one for $12... so I made one out of Sculpey. I made the head and then the body. I attached them with a toothpick and smoothed them out. Then I attached the claws and the tail and wings.
I baked him at 275 degrees for about 10 minutes.
Now I am painting him with black and green acrylics.
I'm on my second coat and have not done the eyes yet.

The painted pictures are a bit blurry because the paint is so reflective wet, I couldn't really get a good picture, but when I'm done I will post angles of Toothless when he is dry.

Love, Nana

TV: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Now I Want A Dragon.

2010-04-13T21:27:00.001-07:00

The Art of How to Train Your Dragon.
I do not own this book, but I have seen it and it is glorious. Amazon has copies for $27 and it's hard to just not pay part of my bills to buy a copy, but I'm holding fast... but for how much longer? Blah.
Anyway, you should go out into the world and at least see this book in person. And if you still haven't seen the movie, it is very much worth it. The book is almost better because it goes into detail about the development of the story and characters and the designs inside are amazing. I want to draw like that.

Maybe someday I will. :)

Love,
Nat

music: the radio
drink: Peace Tea Green Tea

I'm gonna go to Babylon and get me some whiskey, Gonna get me some whiskey now...

2010-04-13T20:27:00.000-07:00

ME (below)

Studies for a series of pin-ups I want to do. And a ninja.

Stressed out. But such is life.
Weekend right now, though. Monday through Wednesday. Strange weekend. Good weekend. Job hunting. Made eggs, toast, coffee. Cleaned. Store. Bought groceries with invisible money. Fixed broken taxes. Headache. Lovelovelove and loved. <3 Gotta make some changes. Gotta go somewhere else for a little bit, but there's nowhere else to go.

Love, Nana
p.s. blog title today from Regina Spektor's song Pavlov's Daughter from 11:11.

music:

"the big bad music makes me go insane!"

2010-04-06T16:22:00.000-07:00

So, I went to see How to Train Your Dragon in 3D and I felt like I was going to explode. I don't really get obsessive about things, in general, and I learned in grade school that buying into fades was mostly just a waste of money, but I find myself obsessed with that movie. The design was incredible and the story was more original than most of the films that have been coming out recently. The character design, specifically the varieties of dragons, blew my mind. Not that they were unimaginable, but the care with which they were designed and the study of how they all moved exceeded my brain's capacity of awesome.
So, above, you will see two depictions of Toothless, the Night Fury, whose design is unfortunately NOt mine, but I mean no criminal intention by reproducing his likeness.
In other words, go see this movie. Check out the art book, it is beautiful.
I also include two girlies and a free-form bird I drew off of a random watercolor splotch I made.
I've been trying to work more on making permanent marks right-off, instead of relying so heavily on pencil, but it's tough.

LOVE, Nat.

music: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Oh Yeah [Save My Soul]

so little time.

2010-03-31T20:19:00.001-07:00

Today is one of those days I wish could last for three.
Work is irking me and it's hard to ignore the fact that I am going back tomorrow.
But, I can't complain too much, because at least I have some kind of work.
Even if it is nowhere near what I want to do... But, I'll stop. While I'm ahead. Maybe I won't cry in the stockroom tomorrow.
I hope. So bad.

I get to visit my parents at the end of the month. That will be awesome.

Totoro is not mine, but I drew him. Kind of.
The alpaca is for my friends Joshua and Julie. For their fridge, where they are keeping the goat from a couple of posts ago.

LOVE.
Nate.

music : CAKE
let's watch a movie now and eat sandwiches!

Nowhere Man

2010-03-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

This is random fan art I did for my boyfriend Kevin on a day when he seemed like he was having a rough day.
If you have never seen Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, I feel that pretty much nobody would dislike this show. Oriented around kids, but it must be given more credit than that.
Anyway, this is Eduardo, one of my favorite characters in the show.

-Nate

... more later I hope.

when the dark bird flys.

2010-03-30T18:00:00.001-07:00

One comic I really like is Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim:

(not my image. this is done by Scott Pilgrim's master, Bryan Lee O'Malley and I'm borrowing it with no ill intent.)

If you have not read it, and enjoy comics with crazy awesome super-epic-filled epicness, you will love Scott Pilgrim. Right now there are five books out, currently, all of them are filled with awesomeness. I would also recommend them to any book reader who enjoys video games, music references, and sassy jokes.

And now, there will be a movie : Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/universal/scottpilgrimvstheworld/

I'm intrigued. I think they followed the look of the books as well as can be expected when translating illustration to live-action. Michael Sera was a bit of a surprise, but I am holding back any judgments until I see it will my own two eyes. In any case, it looks like it will be hilarious. And crazy. And epic. For better or for worse.

-Nate <3

p.s. need new job. why so hard to find?

music: iPod on shuffle... what is this?
show: Robot Chicken

a little bit.

2010-03-23T14:08:00.000-07:00

The art-making-world has been flowing slowly around me. Not a lot of time devoted to drawing lately. I feel distracted and a little detached.
I am a little worried about a lot of things, so it's hard to let go and release myself into a free and vibrant image. I need things to be calmer (more calm, whathaveyou) for the images to flow. Ugh.
I am afraid of not making rent this month. One starving artist/cashier to another, I am already $50 short... and that makes my sleep fitful and my stomach churn.
Such is life. I will work through this rough patch. And come out all the better for it on the other side. Right?

Perhaps.
In the mean time I will draw lots of pretty ladies and lots of goats...

LOve, N.V.H.

P.s. in the third images (at the left) is The Scotsman from Samurai Jack. He is not mine, but I like to draw him!

music: Collect Call - Metric (Fantasies)
show: [season three] Samurai Jack - Birth of Evil part 2

Warning: this post may be too nerdy.

2010-03-23T01:45:00.001-07:00

This is not my own stuff and I do not, in any way, claim it as my own.
I am merely posting it because I am an appreciative nerd and am super impressed by the creativity of this undertaking.
Saw it on the web, needed to post it:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ashleytalong/a-to-z-of-awesomeness-hpz

Also, posts to follow tomorrow which are actually of my own work! Huzzah!

LOVE, Nate

Book: Dresden Files book Three - Jim Butcher
Show: rewatching Anime Legends collection of Outlaw Star
Food: Vanilla yoghurt + granola

nudity and kingfishers

2010-03-11T22:04:00.001-08:00

I've always liked pin-ups, especially the classic Elvgren style pulp illustrations. (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1411/1068105289_259f41cc5e.jpg)
Occasionally I give them a try. They're not as refined as Elvgren, of course, but I like trying it out now and then. Micron 01 and 05 + Winsor&Newton watercolor.

The belted kingfisher, native to Seattle Washington, the Pacific Northwest, and most of Northern North America. Winters in the West Indies and North Colombia. Habitat: streams, rivers, ponds, marshes. Size: approx 11 3/4 inches (30 cm).
As regular followers of my artwork might note, I have been trying my hand at more and more birds. Trying to get at least a marginal understanding of anatomy and color and so on. One of the reasons for this undertaking is because I have a tattoo idea I've been wanting to concoct for several years. The only problem is that I feel the need to draw out the original sketches for my tattoos myself. And I'm really picky. Which is good, supposedly, but also means that of the five tattoo ideas I'm bent on, I only have one on my body... so it takes awhile.
This kingfisher will be a tattoo relatively soon. I want it within the next year. It will be a memorial tattoo, of sorts, for my grandmother Ellen. She was one of my favorite people in the entire world. There were kingfishers at her house and there were kingfishers when we sprinkled her ashes. I can't help but think of her when I see them and they have occasionally brought tears to my eyes, even though she has been gone for quite a long time. I miss her still and I will never forget her or stop loving her. I had the idea a few years ago and have been working on it for about two; and I hope to see it through and actually get it put on me. Memorial tattoos can be bad, corny, or just plan weird (i.e. the face or hand print of the dead person), but I love the simplicity and incognito nature of a bird.

Love, Nate

music: Grow Up and Blow Away - Metric
book: Grave Peril - Jim Butcher

bibliophil-odyssey

2010-03-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Being a Blogspot account, I have recently (over the last two months or so) been looking at more and more blogs and art/image/design websites. I am drawn to these more now than ever previously and I'm not sure why. But, I would like to start posting every month, a new blog/site (new to me, at least) which intrigues me.

This first one, I had actually learned about a year ago, was struck with awe and then I promptly misplaced the site name or something like that.

Recently (yesterday) rediscovered, I was glad to see http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/ doing entries about Illuminated scripts and old and awesome bookbinding.
Hope you enjoy.

<3
Nate

p.s. more sketches soon. I am officially moved in and on the lease today! huZZah!

music: The Werewolf Song - The Nextdoor Neighbors
TV: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

word bullets

2010-02-23T01:11:00.000-08:00

I love making art. It is one of my top five activities ever. I will not assign it or my other four favorite activities specific numbers, to order them, but know that it is up there and is a big part of my life.
I also love it when people love my art. Especially people I admire or have never met before.
These things are most-likely true for most artists. Of any form. Art is a lot of things. It is not simply drawing, painting, printing, sculpting. It is language, writing, dancing, singing, music, poetry, and among other things, comedy and acting.
It is an interesting thought to love doing something that serves no purpose to people other than making them see something new. I draw, paint, whathaveyou to show people things I imagine or wish or want. I draw my journal when others write.
To get paid to do this kind of work is always a strange feeling. Perhaps I still look at drawing like a past time, like a hobby, like a form of writing. When commissioned I am not "weirded-out" but impressed, I suppose. Art feels like breathing, like writing, like a waking dream, so it is strange to see it as a job. As work. Odd.
On the other hand, I long to make my living doing this art I love. In my mind it feels like it would be easy, but in the deeper bits of my head I feel that getting a full income from this thing that is such a part of me would deaden it. And maybe even weaken my relationship with my artistic self.
This feels like a ramble, but I feel that my art blog is the best place to put this. Not a keeper of journals with lines, I feel this is my nextbestthing.
Art=work?

-Nate

music: All You Need Is Love - The Beatles
book: Fool Moon by Jim Butcher

Meandering images.

2010-02-22T20:06:00.000-08:00

Not really in any order, I drew a bunch of birds, some random girls, Kevin (twice, once with a beard and once without a beard!) then I drew a tiger and a monkey and an Ibis at the zoo! The zoo is depressing, but also amazing. I like to go every couple of years just to see animals in real life I would never see otherwise. They just always look so bored and it's sad they're in cages. But it's cool that they're safe and fed and I can see how an Ocelot or a Orangutan move around.
Anywho, I haven't updated sketches in awhile, but that will change. Want to be more diligent about the sketching. Especially after I'm all moved in to the other house. w00.

-Nate <3

p.s. Also, I drew Chewie and he loves lazer guns. I love Chewie. He makes Star Wars awesome.

ComicsDojo!

2010-02-22T19:52:00.000-08:00

A three page comic I made at the first meeting of Comics Dojo, a drawing group. Informal and open. I like the idea a lot.
So far made up of Vincent, Sara, Kevin, perhaps Travis, perhaps Leland, and me/I/Nate.
Awesome.

ALSO: Read the top one first, then read the page to the lower right, then the left page. Sorry it's backwards, kind of, I drew it in my left-handed sketchbook.

Ghosts Don't Believe in Us

2010-02-22T16:30:00.001-08:00

These are some pages of a three panel comic idea I had back in 2007, when I was living in Olympia Washington.
Found these when I was cleaning out my art boxes for moving.
p.s. I am moving!
Hope you like these. They are silly and old and adorable.

Love,
Nate

p.p.s. more posts/updates to follow tonight. Lots of sketches!

music: Hombre Religioso - Mr. Loco (Nacho Libre OST)
show: Life On Mars (UK) season 2 episode 1

Menagerie.

2009-12-27T17:25:00.000-08:00

BIRDS!
and a stag. and a wait.er.

Nat. <3

and dead dogs only want to live again.

2009-12-16T22:15:00.000-08:00

I'm still trying to hone some kind of skill at drawing animals the way they look, but still keep everything in my style.
It's fun.
These are some random 11x14 sketches with pen and ink over them.
I forgot how much I love using a nib pen with actual ink.

Nat.

music: Iron and Wine - Serpent Charmer [Around the Well disc 2]

/his cigarette is burning, but he never seems to ash/

2009-12-13T20:50:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks because I have been busy-ish. I mean, I've had time to watch movies and go out to the bar, just haven't put my free time toward scanning and posting... so, maybe I'm a bad person, deal with it.
But I have felt guilty about it. I have been drawing less these past two weeks than usual, so I am posting a little more than usual now.
From the top:
1. my father wearing my sister's flowery headband.
2. drawing myself naked is very liberating and I like the result.
3+4. owls and hummingbirds
5. a coupla random girls and a bear quoting Kevin.
6. Sally Bowles from the movie version of "Cabaret" c. 1972
7. llamas
8. Inspired by "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" c. 2004, a film by Wes Anderson.

On the topic of Wes Anderson, I saw his film adaptation of Roald Dahl's wonderful book, The Fantastic Mr. Fox. I loved the book as a child, but I also love the movie version. A wonderful stop-motion depiction of a good story. The models and sets are amazing and the dialogue is, of course, witty and hilarious. Doff of my cap to you, Mr. Anderson.

Nat.
<3

music: Comfort Eagle by Cake [Comfort Eagle]

hear the sirens call me home.

2009-11-26T12:29:00.000-08:00

New sketchbook by Hand-Book. New watercolor tube set by Winsor&Newton (faves!) and some travel brushes of the Black Gold variety from Daniel Smith in Seattle, WA.
I've been trying to challenge myself more with me drawing because that is how I get better. I enjoy drawing animals, but I am not technical about it enough. They look kind of messy, most of the time, so I've been trying to clean them up and really look at the animal or bird I want to draw. While also making it my own in my own style.
Critique (helpful) and comment are greatly appreciated!

<3
Nat.

It's ribs our ceiling beams, it's guts our carpeting... I guess we have some time to kill.

2009-11-22T21:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.nationalgeographicstock.com/
I used to use National Geographic magazines for references all of the time, but I haven't really thought about good ol' NatGeo in awhile. Today I went a bit crazy and decided to draw a bunch of birds and other creatures. I'm still working on them, so I will post them soon, but I thought I'd put up the link for the National Geographic stock photos archive.
Also, http://www.characterdesigns.com/ is great for working on anatomy for humans.
I have also been hitting up my book collection a lot more, lately, for reference material including The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Birds: The Definitive Reference a Barnes and Noble Book. Also Sarah Simblet's Anatomy for the Artist is a must have.

Be updating with artwork soon.

What are your favorite references?

Love,
Nat.

my father moved through the theys of we.

2009-11-21T21:59:00.000-08:00

Saw my parents just this morning and the day before.
They took me to Daniel Smith (http://www.danielsmith.com/) in Seattle Washington.
I love that store.
Anyway, my father, who went to art school back in the 70s and used to draw all the time was one of my biggest inspirations to draw when I was wee. He hasn't had a proper sketchbook since before I can remember. Long story short, he finally got one again! So I drew him while he was drawing because I think it's awesome and I haven't seen him draw since I was in grade school.

We are a world of artists. We need to make the beauty we see in our minds. I have quit one of my part time jobs because I want to focus more on art-making. I am scared because I will barely/maybe not quite make rent next month if I don't find some other job soon. But it is in my nature. I need to have a job I like, at least, if not love. I can't do retail forever, because it is not my calling. It will be hard, but I hope to get involved in art as a career somehow.
I will keep you posted. *nervous*

Love, Nat.
I love you dad. Keep drawing.
And to Coriña at Daniel Smith: keep writing! and sketching will be easy sooner than you think!

tears like diamonds.

2009-11-14T15:35:00.000-08:00

Jim Fuckin' Rockford a la Rockford Files. Winged giraffe roughly-based on album artwork I saw at a coffee shop (Aliviar) for a band called Gray Alice[?] I think. I will go back and find out for suresies. I forgot to write it down.
Almost Kevin (not quite.) and a ded tuth.
Drawings of girls in a Radio Cab note book... or "being bored at work".

<3
Nat.

this blog is not yet rated.

2009-11-11T16:39:00.000-08:00

Meanderings in my sketchbook.
Pictured are Matt (bartender at one of most favorite bars ever.), Maker's Mark whiskey, and a coupla cute girls in dresses I want. Along with Charlotte, the spider, who lives above my parent's back door.
<3

P.S. Forgot to mention that Eddie is from Doug Tennapel's graphic novel Black Cherry. And Appa, is from Avatar:The Last Airbender.

well, well, well, what have we here?

2009-10-25T16:54:00.000-07:00

graphite sketches.
graphite maelstrom.
dug up some 8 1/2 x 11 computer paper and had a sketch party by myself while listening to Cicada Omega, The Nextdoor Neighbors, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Catwoman,
Tim Minchin?,
almost my friend Catalyst,
pin up,
girl of Autumn,
George (let his face grow long),
sultry,
Bogart,
girl in plaid

OXO
Nat.

Happy Birthday Mr. President

2009-10-23T20:56:00.000-07:00

Watercolor experiments.
Head cold.
Angry at work. Need something new. Maybe art related work?

Curses to this mirage! A bottle of ancient Shiraz.

2009-10-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

busy last couple of weeks.
lost sketchbook.
found sketchbook.
training for new job.
sick boyfriend.
sick house people.
new pants.
new coat.
sleep, sleep, sleep.
feel gross and daydreamy.
hair dye.
hot showers.
hopefully more posting soon.

Inspiration (these days)

2009-10-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

In a post-art school world, there is definitely a gap in my life. I still feel like I'm playing hookie or I forgot to register for classes, thus not allowing me to return to school this semester. Feels like, once I redeem myself and sign my MP notice, I'll be back in classes in January. Rushing from class to class in the dark and cold, cursing under my breath about being given one week for a project that requires three, or staying late in the main building typing a bullshit paper about "why I do art". This may seem like a negative mind set about school, but it's the truth. While one is in school there is an amount of hating it, even a little bit. I complained about it a lot, but I still really loved it. I love to learn and be surrounded by friends; most of whom I haven't really seen in almost two months. Why? Because work and school separate us now. The days I have off I want to sleep in and visit my boyfriend. The days I work I feel exhausted by the end of the day. The days they have off I am working. Sad.
But school is an entire entity I miss having in my life. When I was younger it was my "church", in a sense. I went every day (or as close to as possible) and I usually enjoyed it. I felt a sense of accomplishment when I would do assignments and the like. I ached with pain through maths, but even in those horrible algebra and IMP classes, I built camaraderie with fellow math-sufferers and usually ended up with some really nice pictures on college rule by the end of class.
College, especially, I loved. Even when things were annoying and people were mean and my body didn't allow me to enjoy myself, I loved my classmates and friends. Most of my professors were amazing and talented and funny. I made friends with the staff and I did some really good artwork.
Now, I have two part-time jobs in the retail industry (wince). I have a very distracting boyfriend and I really love sleeping. All of this makes it more difficult to push myself into long-term art projects or get down to visit the ol' alma mater.
To say that I don't like post-graduation life is inaccurate. I enjoy it, but I feel that my art college and my art college friends and my professors, the people that make up the whole school infact, bound me to my art and I always felt passionate about it. I still do art. I still hope to one day pursue a career in it. But, unfortunately, this world requires money, and I have to face my student loans.
I will always make art. I will always draw. That is my promise to myself. No matter how busy I get in my life, or how removed from the art world I may become, I will carry a sketchbook and implement.
I want to return to school in a few years to get my Masters in Fine Arts or Art History. And every five years, or so, I have a goal to redo my thesis project.

College is a fantastic experience. One I wholly miss. Maybe I will teach art some day. An amalgamation of my two loves. Art + learning.

I saw the bound version of my thesis in the school library a couple of weeks ago. There were a couple of unforgivable typos, and some random ramblings, but I still loved it all the same.

kids flash guitars just like switchblades

2009-10-04T00:12:00.000-07:00

more sketchbook randomness.
because it's a bunch of fan art, I will tell you about each image.

1. Nite Owl from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons "Watchmen" graphic novel.
2. a random guy I drew in graphite then water colored. he looks quite ill.
3. Flapjack from the cartoon "The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack". Fantastic.
4. Batman. You should know him. Character by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. DC Comics.
5. hands. still not great at drawing those.
6. girls, girls, girl. my favorite subject.
7. Bibulous - a fondness for alcohol.
8. Hellboy. You should know him too. Mike Mignola's character. <3 Dark Horse Comics.

Love.
Nate.

all the lace, all the skin

2009-09-23T14:42:00.000-07:00

bristol board, graphite, watercolor, micron 08.

this is what i get when i watch documentaries about strippers and the history of pornography.

where do you look first, the moment you get up?

2009-09-22T21:48:00.000-07:00

"Twitch" from Sam and Twitch by Brian Michael Bendis
"Ten, The Sea" excerpt from The Book of Flying by Keith Miller

read the color names out loud. not the color you see, the color the word is written in.

sketchbook neglect. these are over a week old. that will never do!

but it’s plain to see evil inside of me/ is on the rise

2009-09-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

more sketchbook. joy.

watching Robot Chicken.
working on moving house.
worried about money.
but life is awesome.

love.

/I'm not suicidal/ I just can't get out of bed/

2009-08-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

more sketchbook.
trying to get back into inking.
i still love watercolor tinting my sketches.

want to attempt a 365drawing challenge soon.
maybe when school starts back up for my friends I will start a-finished-drawing-a-day? sounds like a crazy fun challenge.

also, the chick in pink with the unfiltered cigarette and the Luger is Dr. Girlfriend from the TV show The Venture Brothers. <3

It's as if I'm terrified. As if I'm playing with fire.

2009-08-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

graphite. sketchbook.

it's becoming increasingly hard to concentrate on anything at all.
except for very specific things.

this will end.

<3

Stars; they're just old light.

2009-08-14T23:55:00.000-07:00

lyrics from
Gimme Sympathy by Metric
and
Anti-Lullaby The Nextdoor Neighbors.

graphite, watercolor.

Intolerable.

2009-08-05T22:46:00.000-07:00

Bartleby(!) comes from Bone by Jeff Smith.
Sometimes, when I get bored, I draw with highlighters.

Random thoughts I've had while riding on public transportation last week:
"My soul is bi-polar."
"She's pretty as pornography."

Just picked up a new Moleskine blank and a Pentel GraphicGear 1000 .5 (which I'm probably too excited about...).

How How?

2009-07-30T16:28:00.001-07:00

Fan art! Well, fan coloring. Matt Grigsby (http://grigsbyart.blogspot.com/) colored this sketchbook page of mine I posted way back on 5/30 under the post "and i'd still be stuck inside these bones...". I think it turned out pretty awesome! Go to his blog and check out his stuff! He can also be found here: http://www.robopocalypse.com/ (along with yours truly).

How how?
How have we come so far?
Unassuming, unnoticed.
Innocently, we waited for the right moments.
We came so close to failure,
Yet we reigned above the rest.
The success flowed around us
Like cool, sweet waters.
...And now it's only a vague memory.

I remember when I couldn't feel my legs and I thought I was going to die from the pain.

2009-07-29T21:57:00.000-07:00

An idea I had for the upcoming Siren Nation show which is happening in October.
The theme is "The Journey"* and it is only for women.

If you read my blog and are interested in submitting work/or just learning about the shows email here: art@sirennation.org or go here: http://www.sirennation.org/

*Personal journeys or overall historical statements will take priority in "The Journey" theme.

I guess I'll keep looking...

2009-07-29T10:13:00.000-07:00

What would I look like in the late 50s/early 60s?

2009-07-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

Mad Men Yourself.

I do love that show, though I haven't seen much of it.

Nuts n' Bolts

2009-07-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

Poster for my upcoming group show at Floating World Comics in Portland OR, on NW 5th and Couch. First Thursday in August.
We will have comics and original comic pages and other brik-a-brak for sale. Along with the Floating World inventory, which is amazing.

The poster artwork is not my own... but I wish it was.

some kind of innocence is measured out in years/ you don't know what it's like to listen to your fears

2009-07-22T22:17:00.001-07:00

Went to "drawing in the park" with a few friends of mine.
Graphite sketches in my current sketchbook. A little watercolor.
One is based loosely on my friend B.T. Guess which one.

Re-addicted to The Beatles. I will always love them, but sometimes I don't really listen to them for a few months, then they are all I can think about for days at a time. Suddenly. Randomly.
Hey Bulldog.

Where the ocean breaks on purple strand, And the hurricane shakes the solid land

2009-07-12T14:56:00.000-07:00

various sketches done in pencil, watercolor, Micron 08, and walnut ink.
Hellboy is the creation of Mike Mignola.
My version of Warrior Queen Boudicca is inspired by the book The Warrior Queens written by Antonia Fraser.

Poor little rich boy, all the couples have gone
You wish that they hadn’t, you don’t wanna be alone
But they wanna kiss and they got homes of their own
Poor little rich boy all the couples have gone, they’ve gone, they’ve gone

Poor little rich boy, all the world is okay
The water runs off your skin and down into the drain
You’re reading Fitzgerald, you’re reading Hemmingway
They’re both super smart and drinking in the cafés
[excerpts from Poor Little Rich Boy by Regina Spektor]

And strange-eyed constellations reign his stars eternally.

2009-07-08T21:38:00.000-07:00

I've been listening to Iron&Wine and The Beatles constantly for the last week.
I have been eating hummus with flatbread, two or three times a week, for nearly a month. Been craving blueberry yogurt since Sunday, but haven't gotten around to buying any.
I'm reading Club Dead, Troll, and The Warrior Queens simultaneously and picking at Thomas Hardy and e.e. cummings on and off.
All I've been watching lately is South Park, Deadwood, and random nostalgic movies from the 80s and early 90s.
My new retail job makes me happy.
I feel good, but I also feel stuck. So it's weird.
I keep having rhetorical existential conversations with myself because I am alone and tired.

/and cold water for my swollen black eye/

2009-07-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

There are days when the tiredness hits you.
Today is a day of lethargy.

I am drawing, but there is no love for what I draw.
I am indifferent.
These are the days you want to sell everything and move to Scotland and start a bookstore and never go back home.
At least not for years and years.

Then you stop yourself and say "No. Not today. Maybe tomorrow. I'm too tired."
But, then, when you wake up tomorrow you feel really good and a friend calls you up and wants to hang out and the cat sleeps on your stomach and the air smells like jasmine and you love what you draw and you can't get a song out of your head. And you can't imagine ever leaving or changing anything, so you stop thinking about it and go to work for awhile until it hits you again.

Eventually.